Tempting Miss Allender (Regency Rakes 3) Read Online Free

Patience herself.
    For years it had been just the three of them in Sussex, with the occasional visitor paying a call, but now that they were in London everything was about to change, and she could do nothing to stop that from happening.
    “Please be careful, Lucy.” Patience tried to sound calm, tried not to let the panic she felt show in her voice.
    “I will, and you must not worry the entire time I am gone, as Amanda has both her mother and her maid accompanying us. Therefore, I shall be in safe hands, and you will be with me to receive the visitors.”
    She didn’t want to say the words, but knew she must. “Brantley may be here in London, Lucy. You have to be vigilant.”
    Her sister came to her chair and placed a hand on her shoulder.
    “I promise that if I see our cousin, I shall ask to be immediately returned home.”
    Patience placed her hand over Lucy’s briefly before her sister left the room.
    The problem was that she had seen to her sibling’s welfare for so long that she trusted no one else to do so. She had trusted someone else before, with disastrous results, and she would never do so again. No man would again turn her head or soften her heart.
    She rose on a sigh, then followed Lucy from the room to prepare herself for the visitors she knew were coming to woo her sister.
     
    Two hours later Patience and Charlie stepped from the carriage outside a large warehouse. She could smell the earthy scent of animals, and around them bustled carts and men leading cows, goats and pigs about.
    “You are smiling, Patience,” Charlie said, moving to her side.
    “I have just sat through several inane conversations with men in our parlor, Charlie. Most simply wanted to wax on about themselves to Lucy, who in turn smiled and took every comment as if it had been delivered with wit and intelligence. I tell you it fair made me gnash my teeth.”
    “She is far more tolerant than you and I, though, Patience. Remember back in Sussex it was always she who talked with the vicar’s wife, while we made excuses not to.”
    “True.” Patience took her brother’s arm. “However, if I have to sit through that every day until she is married or the season draws to a close, I shall probably be fit only for Bedlam.”
    “How many men were there?”
    “Five, and three ladies.”
    “Perhaps tomorrow you could raise a topic you want to discuss?”
    “Good God, no,” Patience laughed. “It is not done to discuss anything too risky, Charlie, like politics or farming. A lady must not speak of such things.”
    “You really shall need a sweet treat after this, then,” Charlie said, fooling no one. It was obvious that it was he who wanted the sweet treat, not his sister.
    “Yes, I think you may be right, brother.”
    Inside the warehouse the sound of animals was louder and the smell stronger. She and Charlie made their way to where a gathering of men had circled a pen.
    “I wonder perhaps, Miss Allender, if you and Lord Allender wouldn’t be more comfortable standing right here at the rear of the group.”
    “But I will not be able to see from there, Paul,” Patience said as she led Charles closer.
    “It is quite wet underfoot, Miss Allender, and there appear to be only men standing around that pen.”
    “Fear not, Lenny. I have my sturdy walking boots on.” She gave him a gentle smile. “As does Charles, and with you and Paul both to watch over us, we shall be quite safe.”
    Her cousin would never step foot in such a place, a small consolation that would allow both Patience and Charlie to relax briefly.
    “I am used to being the only woman at these gatherings,” Patience said, forging ahead. “And as I was forced to endure the torture of men fawning over my sister and spouting flowery drivel for several hours this morning, I’m looking forward to some intelligent company.” She ran her hand gently down the silken neck of a horse as she passed it by. “And I’m not talking about the men present, but the